A round-up of today's other court stories in brief...
Young man died in 'freak' desert crash
A young man who had been working in Dubai for nine months died tragically in a "freak" desert crash when the quad bike he was riding collided with a jeep, an inquest has heard.
Michael Power (35), originally from Kilmeaden, Co Waterford, was riding a quad bike in the desert with friends on the afternoon of January 22nd, 2007, when the tragic incident occurred, Dublin County Coroner's Court heard.
Mr Power, who was working with the company Caterpillar in the Middle East, was in the desert with three friends, taking turns riding two quad bikes.
Mr Power's brother, Daniel, told the Dublin county coroner, Dr Kieran Geraghty, that no one understood what caused Michael to collide with the jeep.
No investigation was carried out into the death by authorities in Dubai, and there was no examination of the bike, the inquest heard.
"It's a very perplexing case," said Dr Geraghty.
"We don't know whether there was a mechanical fault with the vehicle or whether he intended to swerve away at the last minute and got distracted."
A jury of seven returned a verdict of accidental death.
Attacker told to pay victim €5,000
A north Dublin man who assaulted his ex-partner's new boyfriend outside a Skerries pub has been given a suspended sentence on condition he pay €5,000 in compensation.
John Nesbitt (26), assaulted David McGrath in an "unprovoked attack driven by drink and jealousy", leaving him with a fractured nose and resulting in his changing his job for fear of running into his attacker.
Nesbitt, formerly of Mourneview, Skerries, and now living on Clonliffe Road, Fairview, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Mr McGrath at Harbour Road on January 22nd, 2006.
Judge Katherine Delahunt heard he had €3,500 in court with him.
She imposed a three-year sentence but suspended it in full on strict conditions including that he pay another €1,500 to the victim.
Drug addict's case adjourned
A Co Meath drug addict whose 18-month suspended sentence may be activated if he does not remain sober had his case further adjourned at Trim Circuit Court yesterday to keep the matter under review.
Kevin Ducie of Stonehaven, Ashbourne, had the sentence suspended last October on condition that he enter a drug treatment programme, but the State re-entered the case in February as he had only completed four weeks of the course.
The accused pleaded guilty to charges of endangerment and dangerous driving arising out of two incidents, five months apart, in 2005, when he drove a lorry up the driveway to his home with a Garda sergeant clinging to the side, and, on the second occasion, a 14-mile Garda chase.
He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison nine months ago, but walked free the next day on condition he enter a two-year rehab programme.
He had spent almost a year in custody and Judge O'Shea suspended the final 18 months to give him a chance to beat his drink and drug habits.
The case was adjourned until yesterday so the State could make inquiries into how he was progressing with the course.
Judge Michael O'Shea put the case back until October 28th and remanded Ducie on continuing bail.